The Orioles are signing infielder Vimael Machin to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, reports ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. The former A’s infielder spent the past two seasons playing in the Mexican League and last appeared in a big league game during the 2022 season. Machin is a client of Usus Sports Management.
Machin, 31, was the Athletics’ Rule 5 pick out of the Cubs organization back in 2019. He held a roster spot in the shortened 2020 season, tallying 74 plate appearances, and picked up another 15 MLB plate appearances in 2021. Machin’s career-high workload in the majors came in 2022, when Oakland plugged him into 73 games and gave him 253 turns at the plate. He’s shown strong discipline in the majors, walking at a 10% clip, but Machin is just a .208/.290/.261 hitter overall.
That tepid production has come in a sample of 361 plate appearances across three seasons, but Machin has been much better in the upper minors. He’s a career .291/.384/.439 hitter in parts of five Triple-A campaigns and just last year posted a ridiculous-looking .401/.495/.579 slash in 85 games with los Charros de Jalisco in Mexico. (As evidenced by that line, the Mexican League is an overwhelmingly hitter-friendly setting — even more so than the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.)
Machin has played all four infield positions extensively. He’s spent the most time at third base (3810 innings) but also has more than 2000 innings at second base, more than 1000 at first base and another 935 innings at shortstop. He’s a left-handed bat with excellent plate discipline (12.8% walk rate in Triple-A) and strong bat-to-ball skills (15.3% strikeout rate in Triple-A; 18.6% in the majors).
Baltimore obviously has a crowded infield already, with Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Urias all mixing in at various spots. Machin adds some experienced depth to stash in Triple-A and an option to compete for a roster spot if a combination of injuries and trades thins out Baltimore’s enviable stash of infielders at some point.
Print the playoff tickets!
The Machin signing is the news we’ve all been waiting for.
It’s minor.
Cooperhill, I will give you a dollar if you never ever say that again.
Don’t rage against the Machin
It’s too bad he didn’t sign with the Reds. The jokes would have been so much better…
Don’t forget about Mateo. He is in the infield mix as well.
The O’s say “Welcome to the Machin”
please don’t explain this as a depth move
All minor league signings are technically depth moves.
How would you prefer we explain it?
It’s a depth move.
Basically bringing back an older Terrin Vavra.
From the makers of Richie Martin, please welcome Richie Martin 2
Next Ted Williams with that Mexican slashline. He’s going to do what Luis Arriez missed out on and bring us a .400 hitter!
Honestly, I do like that the O’s seem to leave no stone unturned even in org depth. After Albert Suarez’s season last year, I will not just scoff at any of their signings. ‘We’ll see. Go O’s!’ is going to be my response to everything this off season.
Couldn’t cut it in the Mexican League.
.401/.495/.579 slash line in Mexico=couldn’t cut it?
Well they actually need AAA depth. Potential players lost: Vavra, Maton, Niko Goodrum, Livan Soto… Norby gone. Mayo probably on MLB squad to start season
It’s kind of ridiculous that the Orioles, disdaining to take a player in the rule five draft, I think it’s wonderful to take someone else’s rejected rule five draft pick.
Well done, Mike..
Don’t forget Jorge Mateo who really adds to O’s roster with his speed, ability to hit left-handed pitching, stellar arm and defense.
O’s bench with Mateo and Urias is one of best in league.
This guy’s “tepid” line in 361 PA still carries a higher OBP than Mateo has had with a much bigger sample size. Mateo has been given plenty of rope and proven not to be a MLB caliber hitter.
Mateo does hit LHP slightly less poorly, with a .242 BA and .289 OBP. His defense has also degraded to just above average over the last 2 years from GG-caliber in 2022.
The Orioles can make much more use out of the spot.